Research article

Cough and reflux esophagitis in children: their co-existence and airway cellularity

Anne B Chang^1,4 , Nancy C Cox⁵ , Joan Faoagali⁶ , Geoffrey J Cleghorn^2,4 , Christopher Beem³ , Looi C Ee² , Geoffrey D Withers² , Mark K Patrick² and Peter J Lewindon

¹Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

²Department of Gastroenterology, Royal Children's Hospital, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

³Department of Anaesthetics, Royal Children's Hospital, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

⁴Department of Paediatrics, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

⁵Department of Anatomical Pathology and Cytopathology, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, Queensland, Australia

⁶Department of Microbiology, Queensland Health Pathology Service, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, Queensland, Australia

author email corresponding author email

BMC Pediatrics 2006, 6:4doi:10.1186/1471-2431-6-4

Published:	27 February 2006

Abstract

Background

There are no prospective studies that have examined for chronic cough in children without lung disease but with gastroesophageal reflux (GER). In otherwise healthy children undergoing flexible upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (esophago-gastroscopy), the aims of the study were to (1) define the frequency of cough in relation to symptoms of GER, (2) examine if children with cough and reflux esophagitis (RE) have different airway cellularity and microbiology in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) when compared to those without.

Methods

Data specific for chronic cough (>4-weeks), symptoms of GER and cough severity were collected. Children aged <16-years (n = 150) were defined as 'coughers' (C+) if a history of cough in association with their GER symptoms was elicited before BAL were obtained during elective esophago-gastroscopy. Presence of esophagitis on esophageal biopsies was considered reflux esophagitis positive (E+).

Results

C+ (n = 69) were just as likely as C- (n = 81) to have esophagitis, odds ratio 0.87 (95%CI 0.46, 1.7). Median neutrophil percentage in BAL was significantly different between groups; highest in C+E- (7, IQR 28) and lowest in C-E+ (5, IQR 6). BAL positive bacterial culture occurred in 20.7% and were more likely present in current coughers (OR 3.37, 95%CI 1.39, 8.08). Airway neutrophilia (median 20%, IQR 34) was significantly higher in those with BAL positive bacterial cultures than those without (5%, 4; p = 0.0001).

Conclusion

In children without lung disease, the common co-existence of cough with symptoms of GER is independent of the occurrence of esophagitis. Airway neutrophilia when present in these children is more likely to be related to airway bacterial infection and not to esophagitis.